I’m certain that there’s no feeling of joy quite like freshly painted fingertips (Sunday roast lovers, I hear you, but this is beauty chat). Looking down at preened and polished nails really makes typing at my desk more aesthetically pleasing, and stirring my cup of tea an all-round stunning experience. So when a new nail trend pops to town, you can bet your bottom I’ll be the first in line to try it. ‘SNS’, actually an old-timer in the nail world, is the ‘healthier’ solution for longer nails. It’s quick, it’s incredibly satisfying to watch, and it literally cannot chip (more on that later). Here’s what you need to know.
By Rachel Spedding
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1 What is SNS?
Also known as ‘dipping’, SNS stands for ‘Signature Nails Systems’, and has been a popular choice for lengthening nails since the ‘80s (though it’s only just becoming a mainstream mani in the UK). Nail dipping blends adhesive resin with acrylic powder for a high-shine mani that lasts beyond gel or shellac. The powder is packed with nutrients like vitamins A, E and D to strengthen your nails – it's actually considered the ‘diet’ acrylic (read: the only diet I’ll get on board with).
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2 How's it done?
After the usual steps (trimmed, buffed, that satisfying bit with your cuticles), acrylic tips will be added to your fingertips and snipped to the favoured length. Fun bit. A base coat is applied like regular polish, before your finger is dipped in a pot of sherbet-like powder (that’s the acrylic). A quick tap to shake off the excess and repeat. A shiny top coat is applied to your freshly dipped nails, and your four-week lasting mani is good to go. No LED lamps involved and it dries seriously quickly. Fidgeters, rejoice, you can move that hair off your face in no time.
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3 The colour range is 10/10
And yep, that’s a powder too. As always, you’ll pick your shade before the mani begins (yellow is the cream of the crop right now), and your nail technician will bring forth a pot of pale powdered goodness ready to coat your fingertips. Whichever hue you choose, it’s sure to stay put. SNS can’t chip like a regular polish, so that high-shine goodness will stay put until you choose to remove it (when the regrowth gets too obvious). Are there any cons to this? Except for craving a Dip Dab post manicure maybe.
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